Myrtle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Myrtle arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Myrtle comes from the popular medieval given name Martin. It derives from the Latin Martinus, which comes from Mars, the Roman God of War.

Early Origins of the Myrtle family

The surname Myrtle was first found in Essex where they held a family seat from at Abbess Roding. One of the most famous early references of the surname was William Martel (1130-1153), English steward of the royal households of King Henry I and King Stephen of England, castellan of Sherborne Castle until 1143. Some of the family were found at Whaddon in Buckinghamshire in early times. " A small priory of Benedictine monks, in honour of St. Leonard, was founded in this parish, at Snelleshall, prior to the time of Henry III., by Ralph Martel, and at the Dissolution had a revenue of £24." 1

Early History of the Myrtle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Myrtle research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1130, 1143, 1153 and 1204 are included under the topic Early Myrtle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Myrtle Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Martel, Mortel, Martell, Mortell and others.

Early Notables of the Myrtle family

Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Myrtle Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Myrtle family to Ireland

Some of the Myrtle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Myrtle family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Myrtle or a variant listed above: K. Martell who settled in Boston in 1823; Antonio Martel settled in New Orleans in 1778 with Francesca his wife and children; Nicholas Martel settled in Louisiana in 1719..

Contemporary Notables of the name Myrtle (post 1700) +

Charles Joseph Myrtle III (1945-2022), American football player who played linebacker for seven seasons for the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers (1967-1975)
Ann Myrtle Swoyer (1922-1992), birth name of Nancy Walker, the American actress and comedienne
Ruth Myrtle Patrick (1907-2013), American botanist and limnologist specializing in diatoms and freshwater ecology, recipient of the National Medal of Science in 1996 and the Heinz Award Chairman's Medal in 2002
Myrtle "Kay" Thompson Cagle (1925-2019), American pilot, one of the Mercury 13 female astronauts group, later known as the "Mercury 13"
Myrtle Allen (1924-2018), Irish Michelin star-winning head chef and co-owner of the restaurant The Yeats Room at Ballymaloe House in Shanagarry, County Cork
Myrtle Smith-Carroll, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1996, 2000 2
Myrtle Munger, American politician, Candidate for New York State Assembly from Nassau County 4th District, 1954 2
Myrtle Claire Bachelder (1908-1997), American chemist and Women's Army Corps officer, known for her secret work on the Manhattan Project
Myrtle Sue Lyles Eakin (1918-2009), American professor, newspaper columnist, and historian
Myrtle Jean McLane (1878-1964), American portraitist

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html